Rifle-barrel.



By W 7/ /0 I ATTORNEYS B. HOLTER.

RIFLE BARREL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-3. 1911.

1 ,230,7 1 2 Patented June 19, 1917.

WITNESSES B ngnvgm em, o av fl w- BEN HOLTER, OF WHITEFISH, MONTANA.

RIFLE-BARREL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19, 1917.

Application filed J anuary 3, 1917. Serial No. 140,371.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BEN HOLTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Whitefish, in the county of Flathead and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved Rifle-Barrel, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rifle barrel arranged to insure the long life of the barrel, to increase the velocity of the projectile, and to insure accurate, flight thereof in comparison to a like projectile fired from a barrel of usual construction.

In order to accomplish the desired result, the wall of the bore of the barrel is made polygonal in crom section.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the muzzle end of the rifle barrel;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the same; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified form ofthe same.

The barrel 10 is provided with a bore 11, the wall of which is made in cross section in the form of a polygon, which may be a regular one; for instance, as shown in Fig. 3, a nine-sided polygon, or an irregular one with alternatinglong and short sides, as

illustrated in Fig. 4. In this case each short side is approximately one-third the length of an adjacent long side.

In making the bore, the sides of the polygonal walls are given a rapid twist in excess of that usually found in the bore of rifle barrels as now generally constructed. By

. constructing the rifle barrel in the manner described the lon life of the barrel is insured owing to t e fact that there are no projectin lands to wear away, and the occlusion o the gases generated by the explosion of the powder is complete thus eliminatmg a trouble that usually arises from the eroslon of the interior surface of barrels as now constructed and which erosion is commonly called gas cutting. It will also be noticed that by the construction described and shown sharp angles between the lands and grooves, such as are generally found in barrels as heretofore constructed, are eliminated and hence the bore can be readily cleaned. Owing to the lessened mechanical friction of the passage of the bullet or projectile through the bore the defect known as metal fouling is eliminated, that is, the disposition of metal from the bullet or projectile on the surface of the bore is entirely avoided. A rifle barrel made according to the improvement described provides a more regular and accurate course of flight of the projectile than is possible with rifle barrels as heretofore constructed especially as the projectile is not liable to deformation and is uilt at the muzzle in cylindrical form. It will further be noticed that the complete 00- clusion resulting from the explosion preserves the form and smoothness of the wall of the bore and also prevents the erosion of the surface of the projectile itself thus ermitting it to leave the muzzle without aving its axis deflected by the blast of the gas escaping alongside it. Owing to the elimination of metal fouling and extreme deformation of the projectile it is possible to give the projectile a considerably increased rate of rotation over that which is now considered practical, and hence. a rapid twist of the sides of the bore may be safely used. On account of the increased rate of rotation of the projectile a great increase of gyroscopic stability is obtained. As there are no sharp angles or crevices in the bore it offers no place for the impaction of powder residue and fragments of metal liable to be welded fast to the inner face of the barrel by the heat and pressure of succeeding discharges. It is understood that the number of the sides of the bore may be varied to suit the caliber and the projectile to be used far}; rifle barrel, and hence I do not limit row and wide lands forming an irregular mysel to the number of sides shown in Figs. polygon each of said lands. having a rapid 10 3 and 4. twist.

Having thus descrlbed my lnvention, I 2. A rifle barrel having the wall of its 5 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters bore composed of alternatmg relatively nar- Patent row and wide lands forming an irregular 1. A rifle barrel having the wall of its polygon. bore composed of alternating relatively nar- BEN HOLTER. 

